Kukla's Korner Hockey

NEW YORK, N.Y. (January 20, 2011) - VERSUS today announced details of its extensive coverage of the 2011 NHL® All-Star Weekend presented by Discover, beginning with the first ever NHL All-Star Player Fantasy Draft™ powered by Cisco on Friday, January 28, at 8 p.m. ET, during which players will participate in the ultimate game of pick-up hockey when two captains select the NHL All-Star squads. The network will then air the 2011 Honda NHL SuperSkills® competition on Saturday, January 29, at 7 p.m. ET, as these elite athletes display their skating, puck-handling and shooting skills. VERSUS will culminate its weekend coverage with the 58th annual NHL All-Star Game on Sunday, January 30, at 4 p.m. ET, live from the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C.

This year VERSUS will air the debut of the NHL All-Star Player Fantasy Draft, which will replace the traditional conference-vs.-conference format, and allow two captains chosen by the players, Carolina Hurricanes center Eric Staal and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, to choose their own teams from among the remaining All-Stars. Each All-Star team will be comprised of three goalies, six defensemen and 12 forwards.

Coverage of the NHL All-Star Game and NHL SuperSkills competition will be hosted by VERSUS’ Mike “Doc” Emrick and analyst Eddie Olczyk with reporters Charissa Thompson and Bob Harwood providing rink-side updates from the RBC Center. The Hockey Central crew of Bill Patrick, Keith Jones and Brian Engblom will also be on location to report on all the NHL All-Star weekend festivities and host intermissions during the 58th annual NHL All-Star Game.

During the weekend’s telecast, VERSUS will also institute production elements to enhance the presentation, including the national network debut of the Imovix replay system that slows down action to an amazing 500 frames/second, offering viewers outstanding replays that can even show the rotation of the puck during a shot. VERSUS will also have in-net goal cameras which offers an amazing look at the on-ice action, extra reporters to add perspective from on the ice and in the locker rooms as well as microphones and earpieces on the players during the 2011 NHL All-Star Game and the NHL SuperSkills competition.